Jpop: Top 10 of third quarter 2016

There hasn't been *that* much jpop that caught my eye this quarter, but what there was, was good.

10. Daoko - Daisuki. The third video is the coolest, with industrial robots making it all interesting.

9. Charisma.com - Moya moyashite. This video which makes the duo look almost native manages to return much of what made me like them from the beginning.

8. Yumemiru Adolescence - Leadership. Film everything on a 45 degree slope - that's enough to create something new to lift a whole video.

7. Devil No Id - Eve. Basically trying to momic Babymetal, the initial song still has promise, and they may still eke out something of their own.

6. Wagakki Band - Strong Fate. The classical instrument band cum japanese fantasy cosplayers delivers another diorama of dramatic role play and music play.

5. Daoko -  Moshimo Bokura ga GAME no Shuyakude. The second of the three videos/songs from her triple single is the best, celebrating computer gaming.

4. Passepied - Hyper Realist. One of the best tracks by this stylish band.

3. Reol - Give me a break Stop now. We finally get to see Reol and she is such a cool young lady, with a great track.

2. Czecho No Republic - Dream Beach Sunset. The humor and retro electronica is pitch perfect.

1. Taemin - Sayonara Hitori. The video is almost too much of everything, but the glorious romance and passion combined with Taemin singing in Japanese works perfectly.

Jpop: Passepied - Hyper Realist (ハイパーリアリスト)

I couldn't decide at first, as is usual with Passepied, if Natsuke Ogoda's voices makes this song perfect or unsufferable. It very much varies depending on my mood...

• Passepied - Hyper Realist (ハイパーリアリスト)

Jpop: Top 20 of 2014

I usually let each song stand by itself in my top lists, but this year it would have made for a bit less interesting list as two groups would have dominated the lists with 7-8 tracks between them. I am of course talking about FEMM and Sakanaction. So instead I have let them get only one spot each, which of course those two competed for the two top positions. Look further down for the result.

The runner-up's were:

26. L-Vokal ft X-man - Alien. This rap is really worth listening to. That means much coming from as I usually don't like rap.
25. Inshow-ha - Beam! I'm just saying, don't miss the video.
24. Juice-Juice - Naked, Naked, Naked Kiss. A very solid idol performance and fan pleaser.
23. Dempagumi.inc - Chururi Chururira. Nerd Bonanza.
22. Faint Star - Like spilled water.
21. Ken Hirai ft Namie Amuro - Grotesque. Two veterans in a professional looking video.

Which such fine songs outside the top, the final 20 was obviously hard to select:

20. the telephones - Hyperjump. Screamy but catchy, the telephones makes music of a kind that I would more expect to hear in England.

19. Sakai Yu - Summer Again. Sakai Yu sings about dreams and fantasies in a very charming way.

18. Urbangarde - One Piece Double Suicide. The indie band with its charismatic (in a dark way) singer does a happy piece about suicide. Go figure. ;-)

17. Oresama - Ookami Heart. The video is pure 80s animated gold, and the soundscape matches it perfectly.

16. Tokyo Girls Style - Cross-Movie. Well, I will have to confess I just love the gothic video, but the song is pretty good too.

15. Existtrace - Spiral Daisakusen. Really well done mix of rock/punk/pop and I feel somehow ...respect... for this group.

14. Tanaka Alice - Chicks and Nerdz. Cool like in cool anywhere in the world, in a teenage way.

13. Mamadrive - Onna no Ana. A combination of withheld aggression and guitars made this song memorable.

12. Charisma.com - Hate. Most aggressive song this year as it comes from two japanese girls. The contrast is very attractive, as their delivery is very believable.

11. One Ok Rock - Mighty Long Fall. Lot's of english lyrics and an international emo rock sound makes this (yet) another hit from the rockers of Tokyo.

10. Denki Groove - Missing Beatz. And the winner of best video concept goes to...the singing heads on the back of a car is just so impressive in its simplicity while perfect for the song.

9. Passepied - Matatabistep. The singing of Natsuki Ogoda is slightly infantile as usual, but it is done for a reason as it matches the synths very nice.

8. Berryz Kobo - Love is always inside you. Berryz Kobo may be disbanding soon, and this is the song I will remember them for, a unsually cool idol song, more of a fighting anthem.

7. C-ute - Love take it all. Yes, C-ute is probably the cutest and endearing jpop girl group that I know of, but this disco pop song is also quite well done and a very good example of the charm of C-ute.

6. Suiyoubi no Campanella - Kung Fu Lady. The odd duo with the fascinating singing style, this is their hands-down best song. Charming and nerdy, while still very harmonic.

5. Especia - No1 Sweeper. This is possible the group that I know of that best pulls of 80s retro in a way that actually, while drawing on music from old, still makes the music their own.

4. NeoBallad - Hachinoe song. This combination of electronica and traditional japanese singing is like kryptonite for me. In a good way. I'm just melting.

3. World Order - Have a nice day. This song talked to my inner otaku, seing them visit the nerd Mecca of Tokyo, Akihabara. Having made the pilgrimage there myself two times, I was reminded of how much I love nerdy things and Japan, making me even change the name of my blog.

2. Sakanaction. Its the gentle but still very empathic voice and sounds that make Sakanaction so likable. They may not be the ones you imagine for the big arenas (but they are!), but rather they are meant to be listened to in your everyday life, like a really good friend.

1. FEMM. Debuting in the beginning of 2014, this duo, this phenomena already has more high-quality videos and songs -in english- than most artists amass during their whole career. Obviously Avex is pushing them hard for an international career, but it is still impressive.

Jpop: Top 25 of first half of 2014

Started as a mainly a kpop blog, this year I have really started posting more of Mandarin/Cantonese and Japanese pop. While it was quite easy to find my top 20 songs for the Chinese list, the japanese selection proved something much more challenging. First I removed posts about videos not from this year (with one exception…), which meant several great videos being removed, and then I only chose the best songs of each artist. Even then I had to admit defeat and make the list a top 25 to make room for all the songs I want to remember extra well. And as always, this is my personal subjective choices, of course.

25. Kindan no Tasuketsu - Ainu Land. Some music you just should experience. It may not be music you will listen much to. But you should be aware that it exists. Like Kindan no Tasuketsu.

24. Tanaka Alice - Tokio. Her Chicks and Nerdz was just so cool, and while the newer Tokio isn't quite up there, it implies more greatness to come from miss Tanaka.

23. Wagakki band - One Thousand Cherry. Taking vocalic songs and playing them with traditional instruments - that's what Wagakki band does. Lovely, I say.

22. Urbangarde - Sakura Memento. I couldn't bring myself not to write about both of Urbangarde's videos as they are both visually a must-not-miss, together with charming songs that is all jumping with energy.

21. Ringo Sheena - Blink of Youth. The production of this remake is world class and Sheena is so beautiful in her singing.

20. Happiness - Juicy Love. This new video represents a more fresh and mature look to Japanese idol pop that I hope will spread.

19. Inshow-ha - Beam! The video is a very charming piece of artful make-up futuristic scenario, and their sound is unchanged and still very special.

18. L-Vokal feat X-Man - Alien. The rap is just so…fascinating. It is not often one can say that hip hop is charming, but that is just what this is. All the electronica is a strong reason for it too. Laid back and loving.

17. Fairies - Super Hero. The Fairies are slowly maturing, and Super Hero is a good example of this.

16. The Telephones - Hyper Jump. An aptly named song which has double the energy of most girly idol group dance numbers, which is much in itself. Love the happy and wild passion combined with a indie feel.

15. Exile Shokichi ft Verbal and Sway - Back to the future. This is very much eurodisco and eurovision song contest for me. Am I not right? ;-)

14. Tokyo Girls Style - Cross Movie. The song being nice, I still have to admit that the gorgeous gothic style of the video plays a role in me liking this video.

13. Mamadrive - Onna no Ana. Sweet rock is how I would describe this. The softer sections are just heaven.

12. Passepied - Matatabistep/Photochemical Disco Tune. The music and the voice. A combination of harmony and contrast that works great for Passepied.

11. Especia - No1 Sweeper. This is the most retro jpop I know being done right now among jpop groups. Dangerously charming it is.

10. Denki Groove - Missing Beatz. This is probably the coolest video I have seen this year. The beat is all this song is about. And what a beat it is. Even though it is from 2013, I actually don't give a shit, this had to be here. ;-)

9. Suiyoubi no Campanella - Kung Fu Lady. Talking kind of song, and totally geeky. And of course I love it!

8. exist†trace - Spiral Daisakusen. Just the description of exist trace - all female visual key, is enough  to make them interesting, but their music adds another reason for listening, with a kind of rock pop that is clear and distinctive.

7. Mamadrive - Onna no Ana. Sweet rock is how I would describe this. The softer sections are just heaven.

6. Juice=Juice - Naked, Naked, Naked Kiss. This time they go for a dark flamenco look, with matching music, making it quite a nice video.

5. C-ute - Love take it all. A charming disco-themed number, C-ute again showing of their ability to lift songs another step with their passion.

4. Ken Hirai ft Namie Amuro - Grotesque. Two great singers doing a great uptempo duet.

3. Charisma.com - Hate. This is the second song that I blogged about this year that is actually from 2013, but I could in no way skip it as this duo is something none interested in Japanese music should miss. The vocal attitude and aggression is super, mirrored so well in music and visuals.

2. Berryz Kobo - Love is always inside you. Ah. The fighting spirit of this one makes me almost teary eyed at times. Oh, how I love the video and the song for it taking the idol dancing concept and pushing it to its limits.

1. World Order - Have a nice day. My dear heroes of World Order. As if your fantastic dance number wan't great enough, you had to this glorious video that catches the essence of Akibahara, the epicenter of Japanese otaku-ness (nerdiness). This is what made me spontaneously change the name of my blog (thereby losing 2 1/2 years of internet presence…) earlier this spring, as it really struck home to me. I have been to Akibahara and Tokyo two times and I will never forget that this is what I am at heart, a nerd dreaming of happiness.